From the day a picture is painted it changes steadilly. The changes are both chemical and physical and many are results of atmosphere itself, there are malpractice in restoration, accidents, improper handling, bad framing and vandalism.
Paintings are complex structures that cannot be regarded merely as painted surfaces. Materials with different properties and differing behaviour are combined in a painting; the types of damage that can occure are correspondingly complex and varied.
Every work in need of restoration is a case apart. Nevertheless it is possible to state certain general principles, the most important of which is:
* Remove as much as possible of what men and time have added to the work, while yourself adding as little as possible*.
Restoration is a technical operation to prolong the life of a work of art by slowing down the process of decay affecting the materials of which it is made.
There are three musts of modern restoration:
1. Legibility - it is essential to the spectator's enjoyment of the work.
2. Stability in materials used for restoration.
3. Reversability - any material added to the work of art must be capable of being removed at any time without damage to the original.
* observation with unaided eye in daylight
artificial light,raking light and reflective
light; ultraviolet light
* observation with lenses from 3-100x
magnification
* color photographs and photomacro-
graphs (up to 10x)
* cleaning tests
* facing - if the paint is flaking and
chipping the paint film first is
secured by a facing
* impregnation
* patching or tear closing (bridging)
* strip lining
* lining - the term applies to sticking of
deteriorating canvas painting to a second
canvas or board for reinforcement.
* transfer
were restored in our studio
Here is partial listing
* removal of old retouches and overpaints
* retouches of repaired areas
5. Revarnishing